NCJ Number
86767
Date Published
1981
Length
151 pages
Annotation
This report summarizes a study of the nature and effectiveness of specialized courts established by several cities to deal with housing disputes, especially those involving landlord-tenant issues and code enforcement problems.
Abstract
After discussing why some communities began experimenting with specialized courts and identifying the types of housing-related cases that are heard in various types of courts throughout the Nation, some of the main points derived from the study are presented, notably that specialized courts have the potential for providing the effective and efficient delivery of housing justice at the local level. The basic characteristics of a number of types of specialized housing courts are delineated, from the many categories of personnel functions (judges, housing specialists, special clerks, and other court officers) to administrative concerns, including budgets and court facilities. Thirteen case studies are arranged in a continuum according to decreasing degrees of comprehensiveness and specialization. Each case study contains an overview of the court system, an historical background of the court, jurisdiction of the court, a summary of substantive law applied, operation of the court, and an analysis. Other means of dealing with housing disputes are also discussed, including the American Bar Association - Housing and Urban Development Program, small claims courts, and nonjudicial dispute processing. The appendixes contain forms, supplementary information, and a list of publications of the Special Committee on Housing and Urban Development Law.